Finally ... a theater chain for wealthy misanthropes

[Spinal]

Would you pay $35 for a movie ticket, plus extra for popcorn?

What if it guaranteed no one could kick your seat?

An Australian theater chain opening in Redmond this fall is betting affluent audiences will pay three times the typical ticket price for plush, reclining seats equipped with call buttons for service, allowing them to order gourmet food, wine and cocktails from the theater's restaurant.

Village Roadshow Gold Class Cinemas will open at Redmond Town Center in October, replacing the AMC theater that closed earlier this year.

It will cater to people who "don't want to go to a cavernous multiplex and be caught up with hordes of people," said Graham Burke, managing director and CEO of Village Roadshow Limited, the parent company.

Link (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/eastsidenews/2004306611_movietheater26e.htm l)

[Benny Profane]

Yeah, don't go to the multiplex where people will bother you. Instead, go to this place where you get distracted by waitresses taking orders from drunk customers for the entire film.

I swear. Some people just cannot unplug.

[Qrazy]

Now watch Armaggedon with Filet Mignon!

[Benny Profane]

Now watch Armaggedon with Filet Mignon!

Yes, complete with the blissful audio of knife and fork scraping a plate.

[lovejuice]

Yes, complete with the blissful audio of knife and fork scraping a plate.

to be fair they probably thought all these things out. perhaps each viewer has a compartment of sort. still a stupid idea.

[Sycophant]

There's a cinema pub around here that shows movies for, actually, a discounted price. However, everyone's always eating very strong-smelling food and constantly walking in and out to get more, getting a little drunker and a little louder. It's kind of horrible.

But what the hell. If there's an audience for it, let 'em have it.

[Spinal]

Maybe I live in a remarkably well-behaved city, but I don't tend to experience a lot of problems with unruly hordes. There is one cinema-pub near me that does not do a good job of keeping their employees quiet, so I don't go there any more. Most of the others, though, I've never really had a problem and I enjoy having a piece of pizza and a beer with my film from time to time. I also don't tend to go to movies on Friday or Saturday nights early in the run and I don't attend a lot of summer blockbusters in general. I think this problem mostly solves itself once you separate your taste far enough away from the average teenager.

[SirNewt]

YES! I've been waiting for this! If it wasn't for the public, I'd go out into public more often. Being among the unwashed masses is quite exciting but only when they keep their distance. Besides, anything that can decrease the occurrence of that uncomfortable "should I sit right next to this guy I don't know? WillHeThinkI'mWierdOhNoTheWord sInMyHeadAreNoLongerProperlySp acedOhGodICAN'TBREATHE" moment is OK with me. . .

[Spinal]

But what the hell. If there's an audience for it, let 'em have it.

If you can get someone to fork over $35 for Drillbit Taylor, my hat is off to you.

[Kurosawa Fan]

It's been my experience that the crowd they're appealing to are generally pretty chatty. In fact, they're right below teenagers and seniors as far as people I dread seeing when I walk into a theater.

[Watashi]

I'll never understood the purpose of eating something while watching a movie. It boggles my mind.

[number8]

They have one of these where I lived in Indonesia, and I have to say, it's nicer than you'd think. The waitresses are trained to be super quiet, and it's not like people keep ordering stuff every 10 minutes. Most people are smart enough to get all they need before the movie starts. Plus, the theater I had, the waitresses give you pillows and blankets when you ask. It's pretty sweet.

And the Sundance theater two blocks from me allow alcohol. Don't assume that that immediately results in a rowdy drunk crowd. People who go to these theaters are not frat boys. They can usually hold their liquor and drink in silence. After all, you still go to watch a movie, just with the comfort of your living room.

[Watashi]

Oh, and I only expect rowdy crowds on midnight shows. I always get the Hannah Montana fan club two rows in front of me if I see a movie opening weekend.

I swear, if they're there for WALL-E....

[Derek]

I'll never understood the purpose of eating something while watching a movie. It boggles my mind.

I usually do it because I'm hungry. Eating tends to fix that problem every time.

[Watashi]

I usually do it because I'm hungry. Eating tends to fix that problem every time.
Then eat before the movie. I don't want someone crunching on popcorn or eating an entire roasted chicken next to me while I'm trying to watch a film.

[Spinal]

Most of the time, I actually do get to the theater early enough to have my slice before the actual film starts. Unless I'm sitting next to Watashi. In which case, I prolong it because I enjoy seeing him get agitated.

[number8]

I don't eat at the movies because they're expensive. That's the only reason, really.

[Spinal]

I don't eat at the movies because they're expensive. That's the only reason, really.

The theater-pubs in Portland are actually quite reasonably priced, but I agree with you on stuff like popcorn and Junior Mints at the multiplex, etc.

[SirNewt]

Then eat before the movie. I don't want someone crunching on popcorn or eating an entire roasted chicken next to me while I'm trying to watch a film.

OK, I'm going to have to try that.

[Philosophe_rouge]

I like to eat before seeing a film, while watching I just get distracted by my own hunger and/eating. They have a Tim Hortons at my theatre, priced the same as anywhere else. I usually get something there.

[Qrazy]

Yeah, I hate eating in a theater too (myself and others), but I do love to eat at home while watching something. I get too bored eating without doing anything.

[SirNewt]

I like to eat before seeing a film, while watching I just get distracted by my own hunger and/eating. They have a Tim Hortons at my theatre, priced the same as anywhere else. I usually get something there.

I can't hear over the sounds of my own crunching, so I rarely eat at a movie. Even at home I avoid it.

[ledfloyd]

They have seats like this at the Loew's in Pittsburgh. There are recliners and you can order food. It's only an extra $5 and they credit $3.50 of that towards food. You take a private elevator up and there's a Cafe/Restaurant up there that serves alcohol. Free coat check. The seats are on a balcony. It's the best way to see a movie.

[Raiders]

Yeah, I imagine someone who pays freakin' $35 for a movie isn't going to be rowdy. They likely came to actually see the movie.

On this business of eating while watching a movie, I think it goes into the same mindset as having snacks during a Super Bowl party. Food (and beer) tends to make people have a better time.

[SirNewt]

They have seats like this at the Loew's in Pittsburgh. There are recliners and you can order food. It's only an extra $5 and they credit $3.50 of that towards food. You take a private elevator up and there's a Cafe/Restaurant up there that serves alcohol. Free coat check. The seats are on a balcony. It's the best way to see a movie.

Ok, that sounds awesome. Damn my ancestors for settling in Montana!

[Russ]

I can't hear over the sounds of my own crunching, so I rarely eat at a movie. Even at home I avoid it.
I don't usually eat for that very reason. Unless it's a Spielberg film. And then only during the final act.














:twisted:

[Spinal]

Jeez, what's with you guys and the loud chewing?

[Derek]

Then eat before the movie. I don't want someone crunching on popcorn or eating an entire roasted chicken next to me while I'm trying to watch a film.

I'll eat my goddamn Peanut M&M's wherever the hell I want. Just try and stop me!

FWIW, I wasn't saying I'm in favor of eating full meals in the theater, but quiet snacking is fine. My friend gets popcorn every time we go and it never bothers me, but that's because he's an evolved human being who is capable of chewing with his mouth closed.

[Qrazy]

I'll eat my goddamn Peanut M&M's wherever the hell I want. Just try and stop me!

FWIW, I wasn't saying I'm in favor of eating full meals in the theater, but quiet snacking is fine. My friend gets popcorn every time we go and it never bothers me, but that's because he's an evolved human being who is capable of chewing with his mouth closed.

What about extra crunchy potato chips or apples?

[Grouchy]

They have one of these where I lived in Indonesia, and I have to say, it's nicer than you'd think. The waitresses are trained to be super quiet, and it's not like people keep ordering stuff every 10 minutes. Most people are smart enough to get all they need before the movie starts. Plus, the theater I had, the waitresses give you pillows and blankets when you ask. It's pretty sweet.

And the Sundance theater two blocks from me allow alcohol. Don't assume that that immediately results in a rowdy drunk crowd. People who go to these theaters are not frat boys. They can usually hold their liquor and drink in silence. After all, you still go to watch a movie, just with the comfort of your living room.
Exactly. I thought I'd entered crazy land for a moment with all the reactions.

Really, if I had money to spend, I'd always go to one of those. It's more or less the same as watching a movie at home with food and drinks and your friends. But since it's a theater, there aren't even comments about the movie. I'd like to have them in my city, actually.

[Derek]

What about extra crunchy potato chips or apples?

I don't know. Is it possible to eat those without being obnoxiously loud?

[Qrazy]

Exactly. I thought I'd entered crazy land for a moment with all the reactions.

Really, if I had money to spend, I'd always go to one of those. It's more or less the same as watching a movie at home with food and drinks and your friends. But since it's a theater, there aren't even comments about the movie. I'd like to have them in my city, actually.

When millions of people are starving to death every year, do we really need another posh, elitist establishment like this? Fuck the fat cats. I'm all for theaters and entertainment in general but the upper crust waste just disgusts me. The people that can afford to go to this kind of theater regularly can afford a projector and good speakers. Hell, I'm broke as shit and I can afford that. Why even go to the theater? So they can feel affluent and posh and stew in their fat pig juices.

[Qrazy]

I don't know. Is it possible to eat those without being obnoxiously loud?

It's difficult.

[Spinal]

So they can feel affluent and posh and stew in their fat pig juices.

Awesome.

[SirNewt]

It's difficult.

Of course, by eating some of these during certain movies you might actually be doing people a favor. Who wouldn't have liked salvation from this little nugget. . .

Anakin Skywalker: You are so... beautiful.
Padmé: It's only because I'm so in love.
Anakin Skywalker: No, it's because I'm so in love with you.

A loud crunch into a savory apple at that moment could've saved me from many an evil glare from annoyed Star Wars fans, as I chuckled uncontrollably.

[MacGuffin]

I used to shop at the Redmond Town Center! It's a really cool place.

[D_Davis]

Redmond Town Center is cool. It's a nice, outdoor mall. I go there often, to shop at Uncle's Games.

[MadMan]

I've found that if you want to avoid annoying crowds just go see a movie at times/days when hardly anyone will be in the theater. I think its been a while since I last saw a movie in a really packed theater, although other factors could have been at work. I'm not going to waste too much time thinking about it. Also I think that movie theater popcorn is just disgusting.